Gone

If It Ain't One Thing...

Sadie POV 

"Put the poster on the fridge and hang the sign over the high chair," I ordered. "Set the bags of glitter on the table and I'll open them tomorrow." 

"And the streamers?" Andy asked. 

"Hang them around the sign." 

Once I gave my orders I turned my attention back to the cake that I had been decorating. I allowed myself to be fully consumed in the cake, attempting to avoid my own thoughts, but of course it didn't work. I couldn't stop my mind from traveling into the thoughts that I wanted to ignore.  

My mind was obsessed with one thing; Alan. It had been two weeks since I had last seen the hunter Alan, who claimed to be my brother. Even though I somehow knew he spoke the truth about us, I was refusing to acknowledge it. I hadn't even told anyone about that little part of our conversation. As far as everyone else was concerned, he was just trying to take me and Ember away.  

I tried to stop thinking about what would happen if I hadn't got up when I did, if Elly hadn't shifted, or if my mom didn't keep a gun in the house. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have been able to hurt Alan if I had to after he told me that he was my brother. I liked to think that I would have ripped his head off, but I wasn't sure and I didn't know what I was hesitant about. It wasn't like he had been a part of my life, or had done anything nice for me. He was just some cruel hunter that just happened to be related me. Just like my dad and my grandfather, and I thought that was bad enough. 

I couldn't bring myself to tell the truth about Alan. I was sure that everyone would look at me differently, or act different around me and I didn't want that. I was ashamed of that half of my family, they were cruel and evil people that I didn't want to be lumped together with them. I was nothing like them and I would never go with them willingly, but I couldn't help but think that eventually I would have no choice but to go with them. Soon enough they would get tired of taking it easy on me and just come at us full force. I could only hope that I would be ready for it.  

"Where the hell did you find a pink unicorn balloon?" 

Andy's voice pulled me out of my head, causing my body to slightly jerk in surprise. Ever since that night, I couldn't stop thinking. Every time I had a spare second I would go off into my own little world, thinking about what could happen or how I would deal with it. It was becoming a very annoying habit. 

"The party store downtown," I replied with a slight smile and internally cringing at the high volume of his voice. 

Andy had begun to drive me crazy. He had become the most suffocating bodyguard since that night. He refused to take any time off and constantly kept a close eye on me. I used to enjoy his company, maybe even crave it, but that was quickly squashed when he decided to smother me with protectiveness.  

If I went to work- he went with me, if I went for a jog- he drove behind me, if I bought tampons- he would carry the dang box to the register. I swear, the only alone time I had was when I took a shower, and I had a feeling that wouldn't last for very long. 

"Shouldn't you be more excited?" Andy asked. He had a huge smile on his chiseled face. The pink unicorn balloon that was floating over his head clashed with his dark jeans and gray hoodie. It just wasn't right, someone that tall and buff should not be carrying a pink unicorn. "I mean your baby girl is turning one tomorrow!" 

"I am excited," I argued, starting to feel more upbeat in regards to his lifted mood. He was good to Ember, like an amazing uncle. He would do anything for her, and sometimes I think he felt that she was his child too. I didn't like that thought though, because she wasn't his, she belonged to Jackson and so did I. "I'm just a little stressed I guess."